Wyoming Business Council launches $10,000 placemaking contest

Wyoming communities are invited to apply by Feb. 22 for a new, two-phase placemaking challenge being held by the Wyoming Business Council.

In phase one, accepted applicants will receive up to $1,000 to install a trial of their placemaking project during summer 2019. Applicants will use that trial period to gather data about the community’s response to the project.

Any Wyoming community is invited to apply after it has received a training course in placemaking available through the Business Council.

At the end of the summer, reporting on phase one projects will be turned in and reviewed by an independent panel of judges. Winning projects will be eligible to receive one of two awards: $7,500 or $10,000 to implement their projects permanently.

The challenge is meant to encourage communities to be creative in using the placemaking philosophy of lighter, quicker, cheaper approaches to community development. In other words, it’s all about using inexpensive materials and temporary demonstrations to bring new life to underused public places.

Projects that do not make it to the second phase of the challenge are still encouraged to apply for the Business Council’s placemaking grant, which awards up to $5,000. Communities must first receive an on-site placemaking training session before applying to either part of the program.

Placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspirations and potential to contribute to people’s health, happiness, safety and well-being. As a place becomes more desirable and welcoming, people will want to spend more time there. This can lead to an increase both in the sales tax and property tax base within a community.

Turning a weedy parking lot into putt-putt golf course. Attracting people to a little-used park to gather, play or listen to music. Brightening up an otherwise drab vacant lot. Envisioning how a block can be revitalized. This is placemaking.